Hughes - Curtis A.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 10 January 1896
Special to the Journal
Spokane, Wash., Dec. 28—Dr. Curtis A. Hughes, a former resident of your city, was murdered at Wallace, Idaho, by Walter Jones. Wallace is a mining town and gun plays are common. Dr. Hughes, during the number of years he resided in Spokane, won a host of friends. No scandal ever circulated or attached to his professional or social life. He was a member of the Christian Church, Tyrian Lodge of Masons, and Phoenix Lodge Knights of Pythias.
In a blinding snow storm the four lodges of Knights of Pythias, the Masons and hundreds of citizens followed the remains to Fairmount Cemetery where they were deposited in a vault preparatory to final interment in Crawfordsville, his old home. The Doctor carried $2,000 insurance in the K. of P. endowment rank, and several thousands in old line companies. Charles R. Leary
The Wallace Tribune gives the following account of the fatal shooting of Dr. Hughes:
Jones had been intoxicated for several days, drinking very heavily, and Monday night he had Dr. J. Edwin Hughes, son of the wounded man, arrested on the charge of abducting his wife. Hughes was placed under $1,000 bonds to appear before Justice McKinley next morning, at which time Jones withdrew the charge. It is supposed the shooting grew out of this trouble. Jones went to the office of Dr. Hughes and it is reported that a war of words followed, and Jones was ordered out of the office, whereupon he pulled a 44 caliber Colt’s revolver and fired. He then attempted another shot, but was prevented by the doctor’s wife, who tried to hold him until the officers could arrive. Jones pushed the lady away from him, walking to the steps leading to the sidewalk and started down the street and when in front of Rossi & Herrington’s office was stopped and overpowered by George Fuller and the gun was taken away from him. He was then arrested and is now in charge of Chief of Police Rose. Jones’ hallucination that the young Dr. Hughes abducted his wife was a most preposterous one, as at no time has she ever been seen in his company, besides Mrs. Jones is a most estimable lady and above any suspicion. It is, indeed, a deplorable affair. There has been considerable talk of “Judge Lynch” taking a hand in the affair, but it is generally believed that Sheriff Sage will be on the lookout, and no attempt of this kind will be made—let the arm of the law take its course.